China's Foreign Ministry Advises Citizens to Avoid Travel to Japan During Spring Festival

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a notice on Monday (January 26, 2026), advising Chinese citizens to avoid travel to Japan during the upcoming Spring Festival holiday period. The notice states that social order in Japan has been unstable recently, with multiple incidents of crime and illegal activities targeting Chinese citizens. Continuous earthquakes in some areas have caused injuries, and the Japanese government has issued warnings regarding potential subsequent quakes. The notice warns that "Chinese citizens in Japan face serious safety threats."

The notice also advises Chinese citizens already in Japan to closely monitor the local public security situation, earthquake alerts, and secondary disaster warnings. It urges them to heighten their awareness of safety precautions and strengthen self-protection. In case of emergencies, citizens are instructed to contact local police promptly and seek assistance from the Chinese Embassy or Consulates in Japan.

In related news, according to a Yicai report on Monday afternoon (January 26, 2026), China's major airlines—Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines—have successively released notices. They announced that for tickets issued before January 26 for flights to/from or transiting through Japan with scheduled departure dates between March 29, 2026 (inclusive) and October 24, 2026 (inclusive), passengers are eligible for free ticket cancellations and changes.